The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-03-26
DOOMED EDGETTELD.
How Lynchers May DESTROY Conn
muHity.

munity.
Respectable South Carui...a:,s !, K. ia
tensely digusted with the result of the
trial of the murderous Iynching gangs
that have done such fearful and cow
ardiy work in Edgefiald county. The
effect Of these iawiess outrages on the
well-being of the section affected may
be judged by the following telegram
from Charleston to the s.. Louis Post
Dispatch:
Mr.. John A. Moros, of the News and
Courier staff one of the best known of
Southern newspaper men, to-day says {:
| "Edgefield has been under Democratic
rule for ten years, bat 1Idgefis!d has
managed, in spite of good government,
to keep up its reputation. I am told
| that something over a century ago an
| old newspaper published somewhere
in the State used to keep standing as
one of i.s headlines for news items {:
| sAnotIer Murder in Edsefieid.' 1t
| does seem that the newspapers Of to-day
could save composition by following
the example of the old Gazette. The
| Edgetield OF to day, as far as material
| prosperity is concerned, is far behind
even the Eigefied Of sixty years ago
| Fire and blood have done their work -
| "Does not all this lawlessness reiarG
the growth Of the coun,ry?"
| THE DOOMED VILLAGE.
"Look at the village itself. Situated
on a site which is fair to look upon,
intended by nature as the spot for a
thriving, progressive, goahcad, pros.
porous county seat, surrounded by the
richest and most fertile lands ia the
State, peopied by women as pure and
as fair and as bright as those Of any
other portion Of the land, and by men
az brave and as Intelligent and as
daring rs can be found e;SeW here,
possessing every advantage Of soil,
climate and situation that country
seat could desire, the village OF Edge
field 10 day is as far behind the age as
it was fifteen years ago No railroad
leads to its doors, no factories hum
there; the busy hauats of trade are not
there ; the telegraph is at Il distance,
and ruin and DISSOLUTION seem to brood
over the land. The waste places are
still marked by ruined chimneys and
heaps Of ashes ; no new buildings are
seen TO be going up Oh the track Of the
fires that have ravaged the place
Every thing looks dull, shiftIess and
dispiri:ed.'
sATIRIGAL COMMENTS.
The News and Courier satirically
says uThe strong arm Of the law is
making itself felt in Edgeiiela country
/ Ga Monday last eight were sent 10 the
penileniiary from tina. county for terms
ranging from one 10 live years fol
crimes of the most heinous character
Two men who had stolen some live
stock we're sentenced to one and two
years respectively, while upon fou,
deep dyed Villains who had broker
into q Clubhouse aud stolen n quantity
of seed cotton, the trip hammer o
justice fell with crushing force, each 0
the four miserable wretches being con
demncd to three years of penal servi
tude. Another mi5creaut, who wa!
convicted Of stealing, was sentenced t'
two years at hard labor in the State
prison, while in the case Of still an
other criminal the vengence Of the law
was satisfied by the imposition of s
sentence Of five years in the peniten
tiary. All this goes to show that it is
} not safe TO steal live stock, commi
grand larceny of break open gin. h ouse
ia Edgefeld county. Tho men wht
were convicted were coiored, but it i:
clear that there was no Discrimination
in their favor on account of color Th'
law does not take c3uguizance Of th
complexion of criminal. and must b.
satisfied, let the couse quences TALL wher'
they may. The lyncheis .themselve
claim TO believe that they are great.
outraged by being dragged from ,hci
) homss so often nnd also being pu, Il
great expense to stand trial, The,
speak bitterly aud even thrcateningfs
of the officers Of the law who are trying
to wipe out the disgrace that nov
hangs over Edgeheld county,
E@EE77ssITssEsSDr....SzssEs7
Mr.. Edward Jouus. brother Of Collecto